Concern has been expressed that several fund-raising mountain challenge events involving hundreds of walkers scaling Scafell Pike have taken place against advice.

Since the opening of access routes onto the mountain, there have been several Three Peaks Challenges - events organised by charities which involve walkers climbing the summits of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.

Bob Cartwright, the Lake District National Park Authority's head of park management, said that organisers of such events had been asked in very "strong terms" not to go ahead with any planned events.

But despite this advice, two events went ahead in June, with around 300 people taking part in each.

A report brought before members of the authority's park management committee, said that these events had caused much concern among the local community.

Peter Phizacklea, chairman of the LDNPA, said: "If that is the case, that people were actually coming from Scotland to the Lake District and then down to Snowdon, it beggars belief.

"I can understand us trying to open the fells and countryside up for walkers who get out for recreational use, but for people to deliberately come from three places that could be infected is unbelievable."